The LA Metro Board today voted 10-1 to allow Measure R sales tax funds to be moved from highway projects to transit and vice versa if supported by a two-thirds vote of the board. Only Metro Board Chairman and LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich voted against the measure, contending that the LA mayor, who appoints 4 board members, would have undue influence. The motion was key to earning the support of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments -- which wants to use some highway funding to extend the Foothill extension of the Gold Line to Claremont -- for an extension of Measure R.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) the LA County Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to put the Measure R extension on the November ballot. The extension of the sales tax, to 2069, would provide LA Metro with a longer revenue stream to bond against, making it easier for the agency to get money up front to build all Measure R funded projects now, when the economy could really use the boost.

The state legislature still has to approve AB 1446, which authorizes the collection of the tax if the voters approve it, and AB 1446 still has to be signed by Governor Jerry Brown.

Metro staff has said all material must be submitted to the County Registrar by August 10 if the measure is to get on the November ballot.